The Denver Zoo Asian Tropics Exhibit

Project Summary

Denver Zoo
Denver, Colorado

Project Type:
Zoo

Size:
18,000 square feet (Organized into multiple buildings)

Year Constructed / Occupied:
2007-2008

Project Details

The Denver Zoo is adding a new Asian Tropics exhibit. The exhibit will include habitats and management facilities for breeding Asian elephants, Asian greater one-horned rhinoceros, and Malayan tapir as well as exhibits for small mammal, bird, reptile and amphibian species. The Denver Zoo is committed to achieving the highest levels of energy efficient and sustainable design, and as part of the planning process, the staff developed guidelines which defined sustainable performance goals for maximizing the benefits of passive heating and cooling, daylighting and on-site renewable energy production. A LEED™ Certification goal — Silver rating — was also established by the Zoo. The Asian Tropics exhibit design is responsive to energy and environmental considerations to reduce operating costs, and to provide a visible expression of sustainable development and design.

Architectural Energy Corporation is assisting the planning staff to develop an environment which supports its commitment to sustainable design practices by providing energy, daylighting and sustainable design and analysis and commissioning services in support of the architectural and engineering design of the Asian Tropics facilities.

Sustainable Design Features

The installation of a biomass gasification system is designed to convert the Zoo's solid waste materials into on-site energy generation and distribution. It works by generating fuel to serve a combustion engine generator that creates electrical energy.
The exhaust heat from the gas generators is reclaimed and used to preheat the process hot water that the Zoo uses for daily animal hygiene functions.
Heat pipes are used to preheat/precool the supply air by recovering waste heat from the exhaust air in both the Rhino/Tapir and Elephant holding buildings.
Cooling needs are met with direct evaporative cooling.
Six condensing boilers with a minimum efficiency of 90% are used to provide hot water to the buildings when needed.
The Cafe air conditioning system is refrigerant free, eliminating the use of ozone depleting CFC's and global warming potential from compressor energy.
The Rihno/Tapir and Elephant holding buildings incorporate an optimized daylight design using clerestories and Kalwall skylights.
Animals will rotate through the different habitats throughout the day, placing them in various environments such as streams, sand pits or mud wallows.